Trustees
Name: George Petrov
Birth Place: Burgas, Bulgaria
Place of Residence: Medinah, IL
Position: Trustee
Occupation: Manager
Hobby: I love to dance folk dances, work with my hands, and I’m a big fan of Formula 1.
Reason to be involved: I am personally connected to the church “Sv. Ivan Rilski” because 20 years ago my late father was on the board of trustees, right during its best years. He left bitter and powerless before the vicious people who took over it, and in his last years this weighed on him. I will work to make this spiritual center once again part of Bulgarian Chicago and to be a place of joy, comfort and strong spirituality. And I personally commit to offering the Bulgarian public a strong management structure that can work without strife and be protected from impure interference for generations to come.
Name: Mihail Zhilev
Birth Place: Vidin, Bulgaria
Place of Residence: Chicago, IL
Position: Trustee
Occupation: Transport company and real estate investor
Hobby: I love to travel. I also read books.
Reason to be involved: I want to preserve this important symbol of Bulgarian culture in Chicago and revitalize our community around the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. I believe it can be a unifying force for our compatriots and keep our spirit and traditions alive for future generations.
Name: Emilia Kanazireva
Birth Place: Razlog, Bulgaria
Place of Residence: Glenview, IL
Position: Trustee
Occupation: Consultant
Hobby: Reading Books
Reason to be involved: I want to contribute to the creation of a spiritual and social center for Bulgarians in Chicago. The church can be a place where our compatriots can gather, support each other, and preserve their cultural identity. With the opening of the church, I believe that we will create a strong and cohesive community that will continue to preserve Bulgarian traditions and spirit abroad.
Name: Lilia Ananieva-Zlateva
Birth Place: Sofia, Bulgaria
Place of Residence: Chicago, IL
Position: Trustee
Occupation: Educator
Hobby: Outdoor activities, sporting events, charity events
Reason to be involved: Having grown up with Bulgarian customs and traditions, I strongly believe that it is important for Bulgarians around the world and future generations to preserve their identity, to be proud of it, and to pass it on. St. Ivan Rilski Church is not just a building, but a living monument to the Bulgarian soul. It is the place where we can feel at home, find ourselves, and connect with our roots. In order for the Bulgarian community in the United States to continue to maintain its spirit and culture, it is essential that we preserve and honor these spiritual and cultural centers that remind us of who we are and where we come from.
Name: Zhivko Mitev
Birth Place: Karnobat, Bulgaria
Place of Residence: Morton Grove, IL
Position: Trustee
Occupation: Software Engineer
Hobby: I love to travel and in my free time I always get involved in some craft projects.
Reason to be involved: A church should never close its doors. But that aside, my motivation for restoring the St. Ivan Rilski Church in Chicago is to preserve the history built by hundreds of Bulgarians, and to revive the spirituality and community of Bulgarians in this area. The church is not only a place of prayer, but also a home of cultural and social wealth. The existence of a church strengthens those bonds that hold us together and help us move forward with faith and hope.